The fifth season of I Love Lucy brought the Ricardo’s and Mertz’s to Europe. In preparation for this overseas adventure they all need to get passports. After getting their photos taken, Lucy and Ethel are horrified by they way they turned out. The scene in “Staten Island Ferry” when they first get a glimpse of these atrocities, Ethel’s photo is facing the camera only for a moment after taking it out of the envelope.
Presented here is THE photo that made Ethel screech – a 3″ x 3″ black and white image of a ‘caught off guard’ Ethel Mertz. It has been matted and framed to measure 9″ x 9″ overall. The look on Vivian Vance’s face is priceless and it is amazing the prop department took actual photos of them to use which may never have been noticed by viewers. What is even more incredible is the fact this little piece of TV history still exists.